A look at Birmingham in videos …

A 400m dash at the CrossPlex in Five Points West. From Aiden Opore.

And a 200m dash. From Derrill Davis.

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WIAT-42 sports reporter Chris Renkel in December at the Orange Bowl in Miami. From CBK Media Management.

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Driving on the new ramp from I-65 to 17th Street (our vertical video of the week). From Erick Hernandez.

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Youth hockey: Ice Bandits vs. Birmingham Bulls in Nashville. From Bandits.

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Alien Invasion competes in the wheelie contest at the Monster Jam Triple Threat Series earlier this month at Legacy Arena downtown. From Daniel.

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Atlanta hairstylists Jamie Joseph and a colleague visit October’s Premiere Birmingham beauty trade show at the BJCC Exhibition Halls downtown. From a Chick Name Jamie.

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Drone footage of downtown. From Morgan Grace Films.

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Celebrating the Balinese holiday, Galungan. From Bali Viral.

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Officials for new pro football team Birmingham Iron hold a January media conference at the Negro League Southern Museum downtown. From Alabama NewsCenter.

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An emotional trip to Birmingham. From Aziza.

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Lights in the sky (our other vertical video of the week). From McKenzie Ridgway.

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Youth football: Birmingham at Atlanta in December. From the Sportz Channel.

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Parking lot resurfacing. From Fusian 59.

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Inspecting a sewer at an apartment complex. From Sterling Home Inspection LLC.

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Atlanta coach Steve Strother invites parents to compete with children at Showdown at the CrossPlex held earlier this month. From Steve Strother Photo and Video.

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Birmingham protesters in December outside the Montgomery house of state Attorney General Steve Marshall. He had taken over investigations on the Hoover Police shooting of Emantic Bradford Jr. on Thanksgiving. From Hoover Toob.

Montgomery police officers respond to noise complaints. From Hoover Toob.

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Driving I-20/59 through downtown. From 540 Mudstain.

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Asheville singer Scott Stetson performs “Birmingham” (our other other vertical video of the week). From Scott Stetson.

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Chasing trains in December, including Irondale, downtown and Thomas. From TjtrainzCSX.

Trains in Birmingham and Argo. From 21st Century Railfan Productions.

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Atlanta electronic hip-hop artist Daily Bread performs “A Cloudy Day” in December at Zydeco on Southside. From Anthony Leach.

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Allanté Jowers talks about working in IT at UAB. From Mary Gould.

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Sewer problem in Five Points West. From Missz Brooklyn Lewis.

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Sydney Unruh and Andrew Petrovics, owners of the Pointz app, make their pitch for the Alabama Launchpad Startup Competition. From Sydney Unruh.

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Looking back at 2018 at Rock City Church in Forestdale. From iRockTV.

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Driving from Auburn to Birmingham and back. From India Hart.

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Dashcam footage of I-65 from Clanton north to Dodge City. From Ryan the Dictator.

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Michelle Langdon, private events manager for Iron City, on wedding budgeting tips. From Iron City Weddings.

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Driving in a virtual truck from Birmingham to Mobile in “Euro Truck Simulator 2.” From Zman Trucker.

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New Year’s Eve gunfire (our other other other vertical video of the week). From J 90.

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Fun weekend in Birmingham. From Kenzz and Mollzz.

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Kimy Kennedy previews a Tuscaloosa estate sale. From Birmingham Estate Sales.

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Send us links to your videos. | More videos on the Birmingham channel.

Visit Stars Hollow
for its new sewer system
and its free parking.

• • •

Read more haiku.

Subscribe via RSS to Wade’s Daily Haiku. Or have it delivered daily by e-mail.

Asphalt wet with a
leak. Precious water wasted
straight to the sewer.

• • •

Read more haiku.

Subscribe via RSS to Wade’s Daily Haiku. Or have it delivered daily by e-mail.

A look back at all things and people and events 2009 …

Video: Birmingham moves closer
to building a domed stadium.

July 1 | John Katopodis, former politician and founder of a bogus children’s charity, not to mention a pal of former Birmingham mayor Larry Langford, was found guilty of fraud in federal court. He was originally to be sentenced in October, but that was delayed as he testified in Langford’s trial. And the dominoes continued to fall …

July 13 | Dr. Regina Benjamin becomes the nominee for surgeon general. We provide 10 facts about the Mobile native and UAB grad.

July 14 | The long-debated domed stadium received an annual $8 million boost from the city council, despite no approved 2010 city budget or even concrete figures. The $630 million project is scheduled to open in 2014.

July 31 | Area crime continues unabated, as Jefferson County is found dead, lying face down in a broken sewer. At this time, police have hundreds of suspects. The commissioners continue to wrestle with the occupational tax, despite numerous court rulings against it.

See all of our July coverage.

• • •

Haiku flashback

secured blanket (July 14)

Her red cape simply
a blanket wrapped as tightly
as a fond embrace.

• • •

365 days of Birmingham’s best and worst: Wade on 2009

CEO keynote explains parallels and possibilities

Jay Grinney told attendees of the Birmingham Economic Summit Thursday that HealthSouth’s comeback can show the way for Jefferson County to solve its debt and leadership crisis. The HealthSouth chief executive officer was the keynote speaker during lunch at the Birmingham-Jefferson Convention Complex.

Included above are slides from his presentation, which show how badly the rehab company screwed up, and how nothing short of replacing all top officers and changing the culture kept the company from shutting down.

Grinney pointed out that during his travels across the country, Jefferson County was known far and wide for its convicted officials and massive sewer debt: “More people are aware of Jefferson County’s problems than they were of HealthSouth’s problems.”

He cited the Birmingham Business Alliance’s plan in the works to stimulate economic development, and the need for a combined county-city government.

The two-day summit concludes today.

What do you think? Can the county learn from HealthSouth? Should it work on cooperative or combined government?

Former Jefferson County Commission president Mary Buckelew was sentenced to 3 years probation this afternoon in a federal courtroom in Birmingham. She had faced 12 to 18 months in prison for lying to a grand jury about receiving gifts from Bill Blount to influence her votes on bond swaps for the sewer system.

She must also pay a $20,000 fine and perform 200 hours of community service in the Jefferson County school district.

Buckelew told Judge Inge Johnson: “I made a mistake that I do not condone for myself. I can never restore that I so foolishly gave away.”

Buckelew pleaded guilty in 2008 to one count of obstruction of justice. Prosecutors recommended a lesser sentence for her cooperation with investigators.

She was expected to testify in Blount’s trial until he pleaded guilty. Buckelew was also expected to testify in the federal trial of former mayor Larry Langford but never took the stand.

Also:

• Birmingham’s Biggest Crooks: Mary Buckelew
• Sentencing today and in the next few months for other high-profile Alabama pols.

What happens to Jefferson County and Birmingham after a leader is convicted of bribery?

The boarded-up windows,
The hustlers and thieves,
While my brother’s down on his knees.

My city of ruins.
My city of ruins.

Come on, rise up!
Come on, rise up!

— “My City of Ruins,” Bruce Springsteen

Like most Southern places, Birmingham has seen its fair share of colorful officials. And former mayor Larry Langford never failed to make waves with his unapologetic brand of leadership during his 32 years as a politician.

But Wednesday, his career ended not with a triumphant exit from office but the bang of a judge’s gavel. Langford was convicted in federal court in Tuscaloosa for bribery, money laundering, fraud and conspiracy, facing up to 805 years in prison for his crimes.

His dwindling base of supporters no doubt found the decision questionable. His vocal opposition cheered at the demise of the reign and the man.

But what is there to cheer?

• Langford’s misdeeds as Jefferson County Commission president all but destroyed what little trust residents had in that body of governance to spend judiciously and to fix the ailing sewer system. The county is billions of dollars in debt in a virtual bankruptcy, and no one has stepped forward with a clear solution on how to stop the bleeding, start the repayments.

• Birmingham must elect a new mayor in just 45 days. Given that voter turnout has dropped to 20 percent or less, given that candidates qualify with very few requirements, it’s easy to see how another problematic pol could end up at the reins.

• The city budget is a mess, requiring acting mayor Carole Smitherman to audit the books thoroughly. Langford did indeed meet his promise to push through ideas to better Birmingham, ideas both simple (paving streets, cleaning up neighborhoods) and outrageous (recruiting the 2020 Olympics, hiring a 13-year-old contractor for $10,000). (Full list of Langford’s initiatives from Bhamwiki.) But he showed little regard for answering questions on proper budget management even in a struggling economy.

Hubris propelled Langford far in his career, and hubris ultimately brought him down. He acted as if other opinions, especially contradictory ones, had zero merit. He bullied when he could have collaborated. He preached humility before God, then proceeded to use his office (then and now) as though anointed with divine power.

Langford alone wasn’t responsible for these tragic results. Who else can we blame?

• Voters, sadly, got the government they deserved. In 2007, Langford’s woes — legal and financial — were publicized during the mayoral election, yet he still won on the first ballot beating nine opponents, including the incumbent.

• His elected colleagues. The Birmingham city council rarely challenged the soundness of his math or his ideas during the last 2 years. His fellow county commissioners ended up entangling themselves in similar criminal activities only to find themselves convicted as well.

• The media. Did the Birmingham News fail in its mission to hold City Hall accountable? Were its editors scared that Langford would play the race card? How did a Pulitzer Prize-winning paper flinch before the mayor had even been sworn in?

Oddly enough, Langford railed against the media after the verdict. Yet when his lawyers asked for a change of venue to get away from Birmingham and possible media contamination of the jury, Langford got his wish. The jury selected was mostly unaware of Langford’s arrest and media attention. Judge Scott Coogler reminded jurors to stay away from newspapers, TV reports and even blogs and tweets regarding the case.

In short, Langford got the trial he wanted, just not the verdict.

He’ll be in jail by early 2010. But the rest of us will remain in a prison of Langford’s misguided design.

Jefferson County, free of Langford’s grip for 2 years, will spend the next 10 years trying to undo the whole sordid mess. The bankruptcy will be the largest in U.S. history, and each one of us will pay dearly for his crimes. Fundamentally, the commission itself remains an odd body, one without a county manager or incentive to fix itself. It just sits there, waiting for a solution to fall from the sky. No such solution is coming, though.

And the City of Birmingham started anew today, with Smitherman meeting with employees and charting a course for her short tenure as mayor. But who will come forward to run this time? The names include Smitherman, runner-up from 2007 attorney Patrick Cooper, previous mayor Bernard Kincaid, county commissioner (and previous mayoral candidate) William Bell and even former four-term mayor Richard Arrington.

The city desperately needs a rare combination of sober stewardship and passionate drive at the helm. We need someone who works with the council, who plays nice with other elected officials, who works on behalf of merchants and residents. That next mayor must make extremely difficult decisions about how to keep crime on the decline, economic development on the rise and the quality of life as an imperative — all with a soon-to-be-revealed accurate budget.

Birmingham has seen its share of dark days, and make no mistake, Wednesday was among its darkest. The fall of a leader reflects not only on him but the good people who put him there and the city he helped divide.

Only together can push Birmingham from the city of perpetual promise to one of real hope and accomplishment and unity.

• • •

Also:

• Birmingham News’ John Archibald: “It is only sadness I feel, now. It is the sadness of corruption.”
• Birmingham News editorial: “His actions represent a tremendous betrayal.”
• Birmingham Blues: “Langford could have taken a deal, and it’s testimony to his near-delusional arrogance that he didn’t.”
• Progressive Electorate: “A man who had so much promise and had so much vision succumbed to power and a unique shopping addiction.”
• Left in Alabama: “Langford was a leader of much promise and great ideas, but he let his own ego and greed get the best of him thus the verdict.”
• Doc’s Political Parlor: “The conviction also leaves what was left of Birmingham’s economic reputation with another black eye.”
• Lee Daily Blog: “Some are saying that Langford’s conviction was a sad day in Birmingham. It was sad only in the sense that it reminded us again of the corruption and dishonesty that has become so common in our city, county state and federal government.”
• Leeds Herald Daily News editorial: “Prosecutor George Martin gave a warning to all elected officials in Jefferson County, that if they are corrupt or considering acts of corruption they should know they will be prosecuted and convicted.”
• Legal Schnauzer: “The most intriguing question that rises in the wake of the Langford prosecution: Where was Mary Buckelew?”
• Roundup of stories from Spitball Army and the Terminal

Complete coverage: The trial of Larry Langford from Wade on Birmingham.

Meet more of Birmingham’s Biggest Crooks.

Your thoughts on who should lead Birmingham and what happens next are welcome below.

Jury deliberated less than 2 hours; mayor loses office by conviction

In the Tuscaloosa federal courthouse, Birmingham mayor Larry Langford was found guilty on all 60 counts of of bribery, money laundering, fraud and conspiracy. The jury deliberated less than 2 hours this afternoon before returning a verdict.

The conviction automatically removes Langford from office. Council president Carole Smitherman becomes acting mayor until a special election is held. Valerie Abbott becomes acting council president.

Judge Scott Coogler set Langford’s forfeiture at $241,843; sentencing will take place in early 2010, in 90 to 120 days. Langford, who remains free until then, faces up to 805 years in prison.

Following the trial, Langford said he plans to appeal, adding “We all have our trials, this too will pass.”

Video: Langford chastises Birmingham media after the verdict (3 min.)

While Langford served on the Jefferson County Commission, Montgomery investment banker Bill Blount paid Langford with about $236,000 in cash, jewelry and clothes, sometimes using lobbyist Al LaPierre as a middleman. Blount and LaPierre, who were indicted with Langford, pleaded guilty earlier this year.

Langford, in turn, steered millions of dollars worth of county bond business to Blount’s firm, Blount Parrish. The three passed off the transactions as loans, creating false promissory notes to cover their tracks.

The trial was originally slated for Aug. 31, until Langford’s attorneys successfully petitioned for a change of venue from Birmingham. The next available date in Tuscaloosa was Oct. 19, and the trial has lasted 8 days. Langford was arrested in December 2008.

Langford becomes the fourth county commissioner convicted of sewer-related finances. The others were Mary Buckelew, Chris McNair and Gary White. (A fifth commissioner, Jeff Germany, was convicted of misapplying funds and conspiracy.)

He began as a reporter for WBRC-TV 6, but turned to politics after his election to the Birmingham city council in 1977. He went on to become mayor of Fairfield in 1988, where he pushed for regional cooperation to open the Visionland amusement park (now Alabama Adventure).

Langford started his service on the Jefferson County commission in 2002, and soon became commission president. He entered office with the county already $1 billion in debt in sewer-related bills.

In 2007, he became mayor of Birmingham. He also worked as public relations director for Birmingham Budweiser. (Full bio at BhamWiki.)

His conviction ends his 32-year political career.

Video: Langford’s media conference after the verdict (20 min.)

• • •

What do you think of the verdict? Birmingham’s future? Share your thoughts in the comments, please.

• • •

Complete coverage: The trial of Larry Langford from Wade on Birmingham.

Follow @LLtrial on Twitter for continuous media updates.

Subscribe to the RSS feed for daily coverage of Larry Langford’s trial from Wade on Birmingham.

Illustration by Herman Henderson

Ongoing coverage of Birmingham mayor Larry Langford on trial in Tuscaloosa for bribery.

Highlights: Bill Blount concluded his testimony. He said Langford had great influence as Jefferson County Commission president as to which banks would be part of the bond deals.

Al LaPierre provided most of the day’s testimony. He explained that Langford came to him with money woes (past-due loan, large bills) in 2003 and 2004. LaPierre would in turn call Blount, who would pass money through LaPierre to Langford: $50,000, $69,000, $6,000. Blount also hired LaPierre to monitor the Jefferson County Commission for potential bank competitors in bond deals; LaPierre earned $201,000 total in 2003 and 2004 for his services.

LaPierre said Blount didn’t pay Langford directly because Blount knew it to be a violation of Securities and Exchange Commission rules. Under cross examination, LaPierre said he had no express agreement with Langford to trade cash for votes. He also admitted he never told Langford that Blount had provided the money. During redirect, LaPierre said he assumed Langford knew who the source was.

Following the start of the SEC inquiry, LaPierre said Blount had all three sign promissory notes to show the payments as loans, though almost none of the money was repaid. (One check from Langford in 2008 showed a payment to LaPierre of $5,000.) LaPierre said they were creating a false paper trail.

LaPierre also said he paid Langford’s $50,000 bill at Remon’s to avoid political embarrassment during Langford’s 2007 mayoral campaign and to keep Langford happy.

Quote of the day: Prosecution: “Were these loans?” LaPierre: “At that time, that was the story we were telling.”

Homework: See our full live Day 5 coverage below.

Next: The trial enters Week 2. Prosecution may finish on Monday.

• • •

Bonus coverage

Live tweets from the media, including Wade on Birmingham. Although you can’t comment in the chat window, please feel free to leave comments in the regular section at the bottom of the post.

• • •

Complete coverage: The trial of Larry Langford from Wade on Birmingham.

Follow @LLtrial on Twitter for continuous media updates.

Subscribe to the RSS feed for daily coverage of Larry Langford’s trial from Wade on Birmingham.

Ongoing coverage of Birmingham mayor Larry Langford on trial in Tuscaloosa for bribery.

Highlights: Langford friend and associate Bill Blount took the stand, testifying to bribing him with $236,000 in cash and gifts. The Montgomery investment banker, who has known Langford for 30 years, said he used the bribes to steer $7 million worth of bond business to his firm via Langford’s position as Jefferson County Commission president.

When Langford was short on cash, Blount said he sent checks to middleman Al LaPierre. Blount said under cross examination that he and Langford never expressed any explicit arrangement.

More details emerged on the gifts, including a $1,093 sweater from a New York store and $50,000 in suits, shirts and ties at Remon’s downtown and a flight to an Atlanta baseball game, all paid for by Blount for Langford.

Quote of the day: Prosecutor George Martin: “Who did you bribe?” Blount: “Mayor Larry Langford.”

Homework: “Tweets from the jury box: jurors using Twitter jeopardize trials” from the Christian Science Monitor:

As reporters in Tuscaloosa, Ala., try out their new micro-blogging accounts this week to cover the high-profile trial of Birmingham mayor Larry Langford … defense attorney Michael Rasmussen says he’s worried about jurors also taking to the Internet to research the case or send tweets to their friends.

Next: Blount continues testimony, plus LaPierre takes the stand Friday. We’ll be there in the courtroom.

• • •

Complete coverage: The trial of Larry Langford from Wade on Birmingham.

Follow @LLtrial on Twitter for continuous media updates.

Subscribe to the RSS feed for daily coverage of Larry Langford’s trial from Wade on Birmingham.

Ongoing coverage of Birmingham mayor Larry Langford on trial in Tuscaloosa for bribery.

Highlights: City finance director Steve Sayler completed his testimony, saying the original estimate for Jefferson County’s sewer repairs was $1 billion. The former county finance director discussed the bond swaps, but said he wasn’t aware Blount Parrish was receiving hundreds of thousands in fees. Langford’s friend, Bill Blount, runs the firm. Sayler also said that Blount Parrish had no expertise at the time in bond swaps.

Other witnesses testified that Blount bought thousands of dollars of clothing and shoes for Langford and fellow county commissioner Mary Buckelew, who lied to a grand jury about those gifts. Among the items bought for Langford during trips to New York: five pairs of shoes (three women’s pairs, two men’s) for $1,684, a leather jacket for $2,000 and a watch for $12,000.

One juror was nodding off in the afternoon after fighting off sleep this morning.

Quote of the day: “Blount said he had a very good relationship with the mayor and had control of three votes on the commission.” — James Lister, banker at Lehman Bros. in 2003, when Blount called about Jefferson County bond swaps and his relationship with Langford.

Homework: “Next Birmingham City Council president could be mayor for a while,” by Birmingham News editorial writer Joey Kennedy

Who do you think is the best choice of those remaining who are likely to be picked to lead the council? The battle for president supposedly will be between Steven Hoyt and Roderick Royal.

Next: Blount takes the stand Thursday.

• • •

Complete coverage: The trial of Larry Langford.

Subscribe to the RSS feed for daily coverage of Larry Langford’s trial from Wade on Birmingham.

In August, we’re celebrating Birmingham’s Biggest Crooks, whether they be liars, thieves, extortionists, swindlers or thugs. Running daily until Birmingham mayor Larry Langford’s Aug. 31 federal trial. Thanks to Bhamwiki for helping with this project.

Chris McNair

Positions held: milkman, photographer, Jefferson County commissioner, state legislator (one of the first black representatives since Reconstruction). Also, father of Denise McNair, one of the four girls killed in the 1963 bombing of 16th Street Baptist Church.

Wanted for: bribery and conspiracy related to awarding contracts in the Jefferson County sewer debacle.

Date of conviction: April 21, 2006

Sentence: 5 years in prison and more than $850,000 in restitution. However, McNair, 83, remains out on bond pending an appeal 2 years after sentencing.

Criminally fun fact: McNair once had a health clinic named in his honor, until the Jefferson County Board of Health renamed it as the West End Health Center in 2008.

• • •

Additional reading:

• Bhamwiki: Chris McNair
• Crime Watch
• Meet more of Birmingham’s Biggest Crooks | RSS feed

• • •

Want more Wade on Birmingham? Subscribe to our free newsletter!

In August, we’re celebrating Birmingham’s Biggest Crooks, whether they be liars, thieves, extortionists, swindlers or thugs. Running daily until Birmingham mayor Larry Langford’s Aug. 31 federal trial. Thanks to Bhamwiki for helping with this project.

Mary Buckelew

Position held: president, Jefferson County Commission (Governing magazine’s 1997 Public Official of the Year)

Wanted for: obstruction of justice, lying to a grand jury about accepted gifts, including $4,000 in designer shoes, a purse and a spa treatment.

Date of conviction: Oct. 28, 2008

Sentence: Faces 12 to 18 months in prison. Sentencing postponed from June 30 to Sept. 30, after Birmingham mayor Larry Langford’s federal trial. Her cooperation in a plea deal was to uncover others involved in criminal activity related to the bond swaps over the Jefferson County sewer system.

Criminally fun fact: Heckuva job … Buckelew was honored by FEMA in 2002 for her “drive, enthusiasm and dedication.”

• • •

Additional reading:

• Bhamwiki: Mary Buckelew
• Crime Watch
• Meet more of Birmingham’s Biggest Crooks | RSS feed

In August, we’re celebrating Birmingham’s Biggest Crooks, whether they be liars, thieves, extortionists, swindlers or thugs. Running daily until Birmingham mayor Larry Langford’s Aug. 31 federal trial. Thanks to Bhamwiki for helping with this project.

Gary White

Positions held: Jefferson County commissioner. Also became Golden Rule Bar-B-Q manager.

Wanted for: bribery and conspiracy related to the $3 billion sewer debacle

Date of conviction: Jan. 10, 2008

Sentence: He faces up to 85 years in prison and $2.25 million in fines, but was awarded a new trial prior to sentencing.

Criminally fun fact: He took up to $4,000 in bribes in hundred-dollar bills.

• • •

Additional reading:

• Bhamwiki: Gary White
• Crime Watch
• Meet more of Birmingham’s Biggest Crooks | RSS feed

Here lies Jefferson County, the biggest county in Alabama, once home to the once biggest city in the state.

What killed Jefferson County? Poor leadership? Not enough civic engagement? Bad financial management? The recession?

Let us start with the budget, a gaping black hole of billions of dollars of debt from the sewer crisis debacle. [More stories on the Jefferson County sewer system problem.] Add to that the demise of the county’s bizarre occupational tax and its $75 million in annual revenue. Rainy day fund? Emergency action plan? What’s Jefferson County’s Plan B? Heck, it doesn’t seem like it has a Plan A …

Kyle Whitmire of Birmingham Weekly does an exceptional job in “Politician-Assisted Suicide” of breaking down the tangled politics and morass of mistakes that have led us to today, the end of the budget.

With no money left, the county has yet to declare bankruptcy. It has however …

• Placed 900 employees on administrative leave with no return date. (The county employs 3,000 workers.)
• Shut down its satellite courthouses where citizens can renew drivers’ licenses and auto tags.
• Revamped its Web site.
• Battled with Sheriff Mike Hale over budget cuts to his department.
• Left Cooper Green Mercy Hospital untouched.
• Fled town: Commission president Bettye Fine Collins was in San Diego at a Republican National Committee meeting (checked into a hotel under her maiden name), and Shelia Smoot was in Nashville at a National Association of Counties convention.

So what’s left? The Legislature could reinstate a revised occupational tax or force the commission to hire a county manager. Jefferson County’s legislators will meet again Tuesday to look for a solution via Montgomery.

Update: The commission must also fend off a lawsuit from within. County tax assessor Dan Weinrib filed suit today to prevent any budget cuts to his department. (Hat tip Kerry Sanders.)

Meanwhile, the debt grows, the commission is out, and workers and citizens are left to wonder how much worse can it get.